Replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly

ABSTRACT

A replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly includes a first cleat member and a second cleat member, which can be replaced independently from a bicycle shoe when worn out. Therein, the new cleat member can get positioned by the remained member and thus be accurately fixed to the bicycle shoe at a position where the replaced cleat member was formerly installed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to bicycle accessories, and more particularly, to a cleat assembly to be installed onto a bicycle shoe, so as to removably combine the bicycle shoe with a clipless pedal, wherein the cleat assembly is composed of two cleat members that can be independently replaced.

2. Description of Related Art

As bicycling has become the order of the day, more and more after-hours cyclists are so fond of purchasing and using professional bicycles and accessories thereof. Among others, clipless pedals are popular with cyclists for possessing the advantages of facilitating long-term riding and improving pedaling efficiency because clipless pedals also apply driving force to gears when pulled upward. Generally speaking, clipless pedals can help to improve pedaling efficiency by about 20 to 30 percent. When choosing accessories of clipless pedals, consumers' top concern is focused on safety, namely the structural reliability of the products. For cyclists to safely operate clipless pedals, the key factor is doubtlessly a reliable shoe cleat.

With consideration of manufacturing costs and product weight, the existing cleats are typically in the form of a one-piece structure made of plastic through an injection-molding process, as the element numbered as 100 in FIG. 1. After repeatedly assembled to and disassembled from clamping members of a clipless pedal (not shown) that are mainly made of metal, such a cleat is unavoidably worn at the interface it contacts the rear clamping member and the worn cleat has to be immediately replaced so as to ensure the cyclist's riding safety. However, while it is normal that the cleat gets unevenly worn at the front and rear edges, the known one-piece cleat cannot be partially renewed. In other words, once the traditional cleat is worn at any part thereof, the whole cleat has to be discarded, thus being uneconomical.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2, for allowing adjustment between the cleat and a shoe sole 90 where the cleat is attached to, the sole 90 is provided with a plurality of slots 91, 92 and 93. During reinstallation of a new cleat, it is important to accurately fix the new cleat with respect to the slots 91, 92 and 93 on the sole 90 in the manner that the new cleat is placed right at the position where the old cleat was positioned, so as to ensure the new cleat is installed to meet the cyclist's pedaling posture and habit. In some prior-art approach, a positioning aid 101 shaped to mate a cleat 100′ is provided as an aim for alignment of the cleat 100′, as the concept disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,451. The positioning aid 101 includes a feature to ensure that the cleat 100′ is assembled thereto in only one orientation. Thereby, in the course of replacing the cleat 100′, the undetached positioning aid 101 helps to pose the cleat 100′ in position, so that after the cleat 100′ and the positioning aid 101 are put together, and the cleat 100′ is fastened to the sole 90 by means of a screw, it is ensured that the new cleat 100′ is placed right on the position where the old cleat 100′ was positioned. However, this solution depends on the additional positioning aid 101, which needs additional costs for making molds, forming and assembling the additional part, thus being imperfect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, for remedying the shortcomings of the conventional bicycle shoe cleats, the present invention provides a replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cleat assembly which allows selective replacement of only a part that has been worn and unusable, thereby facilitating saving resources and reducing costs for purchasing spares.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cleat assembly that can be accurately positioned without the need for any additional positioning aid as used in the prior-art solution, so as to save additional costs for making molds, forming and assembling the additional part, thereby improving competitiveness.

To achieve the above objectives, the replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of the present invention comprises a first cleat member having: a first fastening portion including at least one first through hole, the first through hole allowing a screw to pass therethrough and then engage with a slot formed on a shoe sole, so as to fasten the first cleat member to the shoe sole; and a first positioning portion; and a second cleat member having: a second fastening portion including at least one second through hole and at least one third through hole, the second through hole and the third through hole allowing screws to pass therethrough and then engage with two other slots formed on the shoe sole, so as to fasten the second cleat member to the shoe sole; and a second positioning portion for mating the first positioning portion; wherein, the first positioning portion of the first cleat member and the second positioning portion of the second cleat member are configured to ensure that the first and second positioning portions are mated and put together in only one orientation, and when any of the combined first and second cleat members receives a horizontal driving force, the horizontal driving force is transmitted to the other of the first and second cleat members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a known cleat to be assembled to a shoe sole;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing another known cleat to be assembled to a shoe sole;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are applied views of the replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 provide different concepts of a rear engaging edge of the replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 4, it has a first cleat member 10 and a second cleat member 20. The first cleat member 10 has a first fastening portion 11, a first positioning portion 13, and at least one first through hole 111 formed therebetween. The first through hole 111 allows a screw 15 to pass therethrough and then engage with a slot 91 formed on a shoe sole 90 (referring to FIG. 5), so as to fasten the first cleat member 10 to the shoe sole 90. The first fastening portion 11 has a front end, namely the end opposite to the first positioning portion 13, formed with a front engaging edge 113 for engaging a front clamping member 81 of a clipless pedal 80 (referring to FIG. 8). The second cleat member 20 has a second fastening portion 21 and a second positioning portion 23 for mating the first positioning portion 13. The second fastening portion 21 includes at least one second through hole 211 and at least one third through hole 213. The second through hole 211 and the third through hole 213 allow screws 25, 27 to pass therethrough and then engage with two other slots 92, 93 formed on the shoe sole 90, so as to fasten the second cleat member 20 to the sole 90. The second fastening portion 21 has its rear end, namely the end opposite to the second positioning portion 23, formed with a rear engaging edge 215 for engaging a rear clamping member 82 of the clipless pedal 80 (referring to FIG. 8). Therein, the first positioning portion 13 of the first cleat member 10 and the second positioning portion 23 of the second cleat member 20 are configured to couple with each other only in one orientation, and when any of the mated first cleat member 10 and second cleat member 20 receives a horizontal driving force, the driving force can be transmitted to the other thereof. Therefore, when the first cleat member 10 and the second cleat member 20 are fastened by the screws 15, 25 and 27 screwed into the slots 91, 92 and 93 of the shoe sole 90, the first cleat member 10 and the second cleat member 20 are vertically positioned by the shoe sole 90 and the screws 15, 25 and 27, and are horizontally driven by each other. Thereby, the first cleat member 10 and the second cleat member 20, as a whole cleat assembly, are positioned in all directions with respect to the shoe sole 90.

Since the cleat assembly, after frequently engaging and disengaging a clipless pedal, often has the second cleat member 20 worn more than the front one, the second cleat member 20 can be independently replaced while the first cleat member 10 is remained for further use. This is favorable for saving resources and reducing costs for purchasing spares.

As shown in FIG. 5, for replacing the second cleat member 20, the screws 25, 27 are first unscrewed from the second through hole 211 and the third through hole 213, and then the second cleat member 20 can be separated from the shoe sole 90. Afterward, the new second cleat member 20 is such placed that the second positioning portion 23 thereof mates the first positioning portion 13 of the first cleat member 10. Since the first positioning portion 13 of the first cleat member 10 and the second positioning portion 23 of the second cleat member 20 are designed to be coupled with each other in the only orientation, the newly installed second cleat member 20 can be properly posed basing on the unmoved first cleat member 10, and thus reach a position identical to that of the old second cleat member 20 on the shoe sole 90. On the contrary, when it is necessary to replace the first cleat member 10, the screw 15 is first unscrew from the first through hole 111, and then the worn first cleat member 10 is taken apart from the sole 90. Afterward, the new first cleat member 10 is such posed that the first positioning portion 13 mates the second positioning portion 23 of the second cleat member 20. Since the first positioning portion 13 of the first cleat member 10 and the second positioning portion 23 of the second cleat member 20 are designed to be coupled with each other in the only orientation, the newly installed first cleat member 10 can be properly posed basing on the unmoved second cleat member 20, and thus reach a position identical to that of the old first cleat member 10 on the shoe sole 90, as shown in FIG. 6.

Thereby, the disclosed structural feature ensures the first positioning portion 13 of the first cleat member 10 and the second positioning portion 23 of the second cleat member 20 to be mated in only one posture and to position each other, so that the replaced cleat member 10 or 20 can be correctly posed and positioned without the assistance from the positioning aid used in the prior art. Thus, as compared with the prior art, the present invention helps to save additional costs for making molds, forming and assembling the additional part, thereby improving competitiveness.

In the below description, FIGS. 3 through 4 are referred to illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. In the following paragraphs, configurations of the first cleat member 10 and the second cleat member 20 are discussed to show how the first positioning portion 13 and the second positioning portion 23 are mated and put together in only one orientation, and when any of the combined first and second cleat members 10, 20 receives a horizontal driving force, the horizontal driving force is transmitted to the other.

As shown, the first positioning portion 13 of the first cleat member 10 is in a W-like shape bilaterally formed with paired arms 131. Each of the arms 131 is terminated with an anchor 133 extending in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the arm 131. The first positioning portion 13 is centrally formed with a promontory 135 between the two arms 131. On the other hand, the second positioning portion 23 is shaped as a recessed portion for fittingly receiving the first positioning portion 13. In other words, the second positioning portion 23 has arm recesses 231 for fittingly receiving the arms 131, anchor recesses 233 for fittingly receiving the terminal anchors 133 of the arms 131, and a promontory recess 235 for receiving the promontory 135. Under such design, the first positioning portion 13 and the second positioning portion 23 can be only mated in a single posture.

When it is needed to disassemble the replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of the present invention from the clipless pedal 80, a user may horizontally swing his/her thenar in a shoe above the shoe sole 90 against a joint between the front end of the first fastening portion 11 of the first cleat member 10 and the front clamping member 81 of the clipless pedal 80, so as to depart the rear end of the second fastening portion 21 of the second cleat member 20 from the spring-controlled rear clamping member 82 of the clipless pedal 80. At this time, the arms 131 and the anchors 133 of the first cleat member 10 jointly act as a pushing force to transmit the swing force to a pushed force composed of the arm recesses 231 and anchor recesses 233 of the second cleat member 20. Since the force is transmitted between the first cleat member 10 and the second cleat member 20 in an inter-surface manner, the first positioning portion 13 and the second positioning portion 23 are unlikely to break or deform under stress acts thereon.

In another embodiment, the first positioning portion of the first cleat member 10 and the second positioning portion of the second cleat member 20 may be shaped into a pair of noncircular mortise and tenon, such as a pair of tightly mating rectangular tenon 137 and mortise 237 as shown in FIG. 7. With such configurations, the cleat members 10, 20 can also be limited to mate each other in only one orientation and can drive each other horizontally.

In one aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the rear engaging edge 215 of the second fastening portion 21 for engaging the rear clamping member 82 of the clipless pedal 80, may have a width W1 greater than a width of the rear clamping member 82, so that when the rear engaging edge of the second cleat member 20 is coupled with the rear clamping member 82 of the clipless pedal 80, the user is allowed to slightly swing his/her thenar on the clipless pedal 80 to finely adjust his/her pedaling posture, so as to improve pedaling comfortableness. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the width W2 of the rear engaging edge of the second fastening portion may be sized to tightly fit the rear clamping member 82, so as to ensure firm combination therebetween for enhancing the cyclist's safety in riding.

The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly, comprising: a first cleat member having: a first fastening portion including at least one first through hole, the first through hole allowing a screw to pass therethrough and then engage with a slot formed on a shoe sole, so as to fasten the first cleat member to the shoe sole; and a first positioning portion; and a second cleat member having: a second fastening portion including at least one second through hole and at least one third through hole, the second through hole and the third through hole allowing screws to pass therethrough and then engage with two other slots formed on the shoe sole, so as to fasten the second cleat member to the shoe sole; and a second positioning portion for mating the first positioning portion, wherein, the first positioning portion of the first cleat member and the second positioning portion of the second cleat member are configured to ensure that the first and second positioning portions are limited to be mated with each other in only one orientation, and when any of the combined first and second cleat members receives a horizontal driving force, the horizontal driving force is transmitted to the other of the first and second cleat members.
 2. The replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first positioning portion of the first cleat member is in a W-like shape bilaterally formed with paired arms, each said arm being terminated with an anchor extending in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the arm, the first positioning portion being centrally formed with a promontory between the two arms, while the second positioning portion is shaped as a recessed portion for fittingly receiving the first positioning portion, the second positioning portion having arm recesses for fittingly receiving the arms, anchor recesses for fittingly receiving the terminal anchors of the arms, and a promontory recess for receiving the promontory, so that the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are limited to be mated with each other in a single posture.
 3. The replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion include a noncircular mortise and a noncircular tenon that is limited to tightly fit the noncircular mortise in a single posture.
 4. The replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of claim 3, wherein the noncircular mortise and the noncircular tenon are a rectangular mortise and a rectangular tenon that are tightly mated with each other.
 5. The replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fastening portion has a front end, or an end opposite to the first positioning portion, formed with a front engaging edge for engaging a front clamping member of an external clipless pedal, and the second fastening portion has a rear end, or an end opposite to the second positioning portion, formed with a rear engaging edge for engaging a rear clamping member of the clipless pedal, while the rear engaging edge is sized to be horizontally loosely received in the rear clamping member.
 6. The replaceable bicycle shoe cleat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fastening portion has a front end, or an end opposite to the first positioning portion, formed with a front engaging edge for engaging a front clamping member of an external clipless pedal, and the second fastening portion has a rear end, or an end opposite to the second positioning portion, formed with a rear engaging edge for engaging a rear clamping member of the clipless pedal, while the rear engaging edge is sized to be horizontally fittingly received in the rear clamping member. 